Smithfield man charged with illegally possessing pistol with large capacity magazine and stolen vehicle
An indictment, information, or complaint is merely an allegation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Attorney General Peter F. Neronha announced that a Smithfield man has been charged in Providence County Superior Court with illegally possessing a pistol equipped with a large capacity magazine while in possession of a stolen vehicle in Johnston in April 2023.
On June 1, 2023, the Office of the Attorney General charged Michael Ranucci (age 52), by way of criminal information, with one count of carrying a pistol without a permit, one count of possession of a firearm after a conviction of a crime of violence, one count of possession of a large capacity magazine, one count of alteration of identifying marks on a firearm, and one count of possession of a stolen vehicle.
As alleged in the criminal information, at approximately 11:00 a.m. on April 6, 2023, members of the Johnston Police Department conducted a wellbeing check of a 2019 Dodge Durango SRT, occupied by the defendant and a female passenger. During the stop, officers observed a firearm magazine in the vehicle.
As alleged, officers further searched the vehicle and seized a Glock 23 .40 caliber semi-automatic handgun with obliterated serial number, equipped with a 28-round large capacity magazine. Officers also discovered that the vehicle had been reported stolen out of Connecticut. Officers then placed the defendant under arrest.
Under Rhode Island law, individuals convicted of crimes of violence are prohibited from possessing firearms. The defendant was previously convicted of felony assault in 2012.
The defendant is scheduled for a pre-arraignment conference on August 2, 2023 in Providence County Superior Court.
